Private group sells tickets to Prime Minister’s official speech

Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, February 10th, 2016 - 56 comments
Categories: Abuse of power, Andrew Little, john key, national, Public Private Partnerships, same old national - Tags:

john-key1

Radio New Zealand yesterday broke a story about how three Auckland Council related organisations had paid for tables to hear John Key’s state of the nation speech. Auckland Transport bought a table for its board and senior managers to hear the announcement of the inner city rail link. Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development bought 38 seats at a cost of $90 per seat for the lunch time announcement. Regional Facilities Auckland bought seats for 5 persons including directors and a manager.

Local board chairs from some of the region’s local boards were invited. I canvassed some of the chairs who attended and although they were appreciative of the invitation they were not aware that a fee was paid.

Apart from Auckland Council Controlled Organisations spending money on attending a speech which was available for free on the web the choice raises an interesting contrast.

Four days later Andrew Little made his state of the nation speech.  The venue was a public park and the cost to attendees was nil.

The content was also different.  The cornerstone of Key’s speech was the final acceptance that Labour and the Greens were right about the inner city rail link and it was actually advisable as well as being necessary.  The contents of Little’s speech was that we are in quickly changing times and we need to prepare.  Little was looking five years into the future.  Key was finally catching up with the trends that were evident five years ago.

But the thing that really bugged me was the fact that Key’s speech was a paid to watch speech put on by an organisation very friendly to the Government which elements of Auckland Council were helping to subsidise.  Can you imagine the outcry if Helen Clark had used a fundraiser put on by E tū Union to deliver her State of the Nation speech?

The Prime Minister, when he is doing his day job, ought to be accessible to all and not fundraising for an organisation supportive of his political party.  And Auckland Council entities should not be spending ratepayer money to allow selected individuals to support this.

56 comments on “Private group sells tickets to Prime Minister’s official speech ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Sabine 1
    10 February 2016 at 7:39 am

    only $ 90 per head? that’s cheap as chips.

    • John Shears 1.1
      10 February 2016 at 7:56 am

      @Sabine. Really? $90 for lunch doesn’t sound cheap to me.
      In any case that is not the point MS was trying to make.
      I am not really clear who gained any profit from the day if there was any either.

      • Sabine 1.1.1
        10 February 2016 at 7:59 am

        Lunch plus the PM speechifying. I mean really….if the lunch was about $ 60 per head, and no that is not an expensive lunch by any means, he’s warbling on and on about how the past will finally be future is cheap as chips – and he ain’t no gourmet chippie either.

        so yeah, cheap as chips that man is. so much volume, so little value.

        • Rosemary McDonald 1.1.1.1
          10 February 2016 at 8:03 am

          “if the lunch was about $ 60 per head, and no that is not an expensive lunch by any means, ”

          I think Sabine forgot the /sarc?

        • Graeme 1.1.1.2
          10 February 2016 at 10:28 am

          Yeah, agree with what you’re saying. Looks like either they wanted a full house, and/or weren’t expecting a huge uptake for that announcement.

          It’s a lot cheaper than the industry association / chamber of commerce / networking opportunity event invitations that turn up in my inbox daily. Generally they’re a couple of hundred for a lunch, at least. Day long things can be $500 – $1000. Also been a few that have pulled their price back dramatically (Retail NZ one example), small sign….

        • Al66 1.1.1.3
          10 February 2016 at 11:11 am

          It is NOT cheap as chips unless you are “well healed”.

          It should NOT be charged for – he is PM, but is a Public Servant – it should be free. Unbelievable.

          • Sabine 1.1.1.3.1
            10 February 2016 at 11:22 am

            mate a 90$ lunch and a PM speechifying while you down your Chardoney, is cheap as chips.
            A 60$ lunch is pretty normal if one has an entry, main, desert a glass o’ wine and a coffee. Its not a lunch anyone can eat every day of the week, but the one or two times a year when I go out to lunch, that would be the amount spend per person. But then to us it is a treat.

            but frankly, if the PM sells him for less then a hundred bucks food included for an hour or two, then he is the cheapest PM on the speaker circuit. But then he never struck me as a Clinton or a Bush (both the elder and the younger make more per Lunch then the PM does).
            All you can hope for is that the food was well prepared and generously served, cause the speech was free for everyone else.

    • Anno1701 1.2
      10 February 2016 at 3:57 pm

      ” cheap as chips.”

      and twice as greasy……

    • mosa 1.3
      6 March 2016 at 6:54 pm

      Shame the money didnt go to charity.
      Sitting there listening to KEY crap on I hope the food was tasty and it was NZ wine they were drinking.
      It must of been good because rate payers and tax payers footed the bill.
      Bet this doesnt make the MSM news.

  2. One Anonymous Bloke 2
    10 February 2016 at 8:03 am

    The report makes no mention of who it was that sold the tickets, and where the proceeds went.

    Are rate-payer funded organisations enabling the National Party?

    • Sabine 2.1
      10 February 2016 at 8:07 am

      oh dear….., I am sure we are soon going to be told how it was imperative for the attendees to listen to Dear Leader in person and shake his hand and wipe is backside.

      • crashcart 2.1.1
        10 February 2016 at 9:00 am

        I think you are missing the point. If anyone other than the government received the money for seat sales then the PM used his state of the nation speech to profit a private interest. The amount involved is really irrelevant in the end.

    • pat 2.2
      10 February 2016 at 9:09 am

      believe it was Auckland Chamber of Commerce

      • One Anonymous Bloke 2.2.1
        10 February 2016 at 9:55 am

        Assuming they aren’t laundering money for the National Party, what Crashcart said.

  3. Macro 3
    10 February 2016 at 9:17 am

    Look! At the end of the day, it’s acshully not about you – it’s all about me!

  4. Lucy 4
    10 February 2016 at 10:15 am

    But hasn’t Nationals SOTN speeches always been pay for view? The Brash speeches was always at Orewa Rotary club and while the Rotarian’s would be subsidised everyone else would have to pay.
    This is part of our Prime Minister’s duties at the beginning of the year to outline the vision for the year and beyond – apparently to know this we need to pay for the privilege or listen to the free live stream.

  5. alwyn 5
    10 February 2016 at 10:29 am

    Funny. I can remember people being charged in the past to listen to Andrew Little make a speech.
    Here is an example in Wellington.
    http://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2015/andrew-little-breakfast/upper-hutt
    Only $15.00/head but I’m sure Mickey cares about the principle.
    Is it true that the Auckland event was held at the park because there are very few people who are willing to pay anything to attend a speech by the temporary Labour Party leader?

    • One Anonymous Bloke 5.1
      10 February 2016 at 10:51 am

      You don’t understand the difference between a Prime Ministerial duty (for which the Prime Minister has already been paid) and a fundraiser?

      That’s quite sad, actually.

      • mickysavage 5.1.1
        10 February 2016 at 11:14 am

        +1

      • alwyn 5.1.2
        10 February 2016 at 11:18 am

        “a Prime Ministerial duty”
        Really? And just where in New Zealand law does it say that the PM must give a “State of the Union” speech? You are getting confused with one of the clauses in the US constitution which says –
        “He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union”
        This is usually interpreted that the President gives a speech to Congress in January.

        The New Zealand “State of the Union” dates from a speech which Muldoon started giving to the Orewa Rotary Club in, I think 1967. The first one was given by Piggy, dressed in a Hawaiian shirt and shorts, coming in from his holiday bach.
        This speech isn’t a “Prime Ministerial duty (for which the Prime Minister has already been paid)”. Those are the speeches in Parliament. This is just a speech he chooses to make. He doesn’t get paid for it and it isn’t a “fundraiser”.

        Don’t you understand the difference? That’s quite sad, actually.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 5.1.2.1
          10 February 2016 at 11:23 am

          So he’s speaking as Mr. Key, private citizen, not the Prime Minister? The other one has bells on it. Give it a tug.

          There are way too many cash-for-access deals going on in this Parliament, and the rot starts right at the top.

          • alwyn 5.1.2.1.1
            10 February 2016 at 12:04 pm

            Do you really think the event I listed where Andrew Little was talking to people who had paid to attend was a speech given by Andrew Little, private citizen, not the leader of the opposition? The other one has bells on. Give it a tug.

            • framu 5.1.2.1.1.1
              10 February 2016 at 12:21 pm

              not getting into the argument re: fund raiser vs duty – but if its a fundraiser doesnt that then require certain paperwork to be lodged? (serious question)

            • weka 5.1.2.1.1.2
              10 February 2016 at 12:31 pm

              In what way is a State of the Nation speech a fundraiser for a political party?

              • alwyn …
                10 February 2016 at 12:55 pm

                It isn’t weka.
                The money goes to pay for the venue and the meal. Nothing goes to the National Party. OAB is just stirring.

          • McFlock 5.1.2.1.2
            10 February 2016 at 12:36 pm

            Little was speaking as “Leader of the Labour Party”.

            Alwyn is trying to argue that Key announced government funding decisions purely in his role as a not-bovvered private citizen, or even in his capacity as national party leader.

            Which is still using his public position to raise money for political purposes.

            • mickysavage 5.1.2.1.2.1
              10 February 2016 at 12:55 pm

              The beehive website seems to think so …

              https://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/speech-auckland-chamber-commerce-0

              • alwyn …
                10 February 2016 at 1:06 pm

                You really aren’t claiming the beehive website is saying that Key was using his official position to raise money for political purposes? You aren’t that foolish are you?

            • alwyn 5.1.2.1.2.2
              10 February 2016 at 1:03 pm

              You really don’t understand do you. You are just thick I suppose.
              For the benefit of other people I would point out that I never said Key was speaking as a private citizen. On the other hand I would not agree that he was using his public position to raise money for political purposes. That claim is just McFlock being silly.

              I also don’t think anyone went to hear Little because he is speaking as a private citizen. They would have gone solely because he was Leader of the Opposition.

              • McFlock …
                10 February 2016 at 1:19 pm

                The Auckland Chamber of Commerce vision and charter:

                Our Mission

                To inspire and influence business vitality.

                We do this by positively influencing the environment in which businesses operate and by providing ‘opportunities, products and services’that will improve the success and vitality of business.

                Our Charter
                The Auckland Chamber of Commerce is a voluntary association of companies and individuals engaged in business activities in the Auckland region.

                It is dedicated to the development of international, national and regional trade through –

                Freedom of enterprise for those who by their individual and corporate talents contribute real economic, social and cultural wealth to the community.
                The development of a market economy in which there is minimal interference from central and local government.
                The strengthening of Auckland’s place as New Zealand’s pre-eminent commercial, industrial and communications centre.
                Assisting the development of the region in creating a desirable commercial and industrial environment for its citizens.

                That’s a political organisation, as I indicated with italics.

                Announcing government spending decisions is a role of Key as prime minister, not private citizen or even a party leader. Key was using his government position to assist a political organisation.

                Little was at his breakfast as Labour party leader, fundraising for the Labour party, not using his position or resources as a member of parliament to do so.

                Fuck, it’s like trying to explain to a sociopath why murder is wrong.

                • mickysavage …
                  10 February 2016 at 1:32 pm

                  +1

                • alwyn …
                  10 February 2016 at 1:43 pm

                  I am willing to bet that, at least at the meeting I listed, that Little was there to make a speech to a group that was willing to listen to him.
                  Even a broke Labour Party wouldn’t expect to fund raise from a bunch of people who were paying $15 and getting breakfast.

                  “Fuck, it’s like trying to explain to a sociopath why murder is wrong”. You do understand now though don’t you? Please say you understand.

                  • McFlock …
                    10 February 2016 at 3:09 pm

                    I understand more than you want.

                    I understand that you’ve switched topic from the role Little and Key were in when they gave their speeches to the purpose of the speech.

                    I understand that you did this in order to distract readers from your ethical illiteracy.

                    I understand that if this were your true attitude to professional ethics, you’d be in serious danger of a fraud charge because “the money was just resting in your account“.

                    What I don’t understand is what’s happened: when I began commenting here you used to be able to perform a passable masquerade of ‘unbiased critical thinker just wanting to give the PM some rational consideration’. You used to leave the defense of blatant corruption to fanbois like fizberto. Nowadays, not only are you trying to justify the unjustifiable, you’re doing it in a hamfisted way. You repeat yourself, you frequent response to arguments is to simply reflect them back as if you hadn’t been caught in an outright lie, you don’t put any effort into your arguments or your prose… what’s wrong? Ill health? Trouble at home? Or are you propagandists just swamped by your boss’s contempt for ethics, principles, and democracy?

                    • alwyn …
                      10 February 2016 at 6:40 pm

                      There, there diddums.
                      Don’t get so upset. You really have no idea what you are talking about you silly little boy.

                    • vto …
                      10 February 2016 at 7:20 pm

                      you’re a cock alwyn

                    • marty mars …
                      10 February 2016 at 7:29 pm

                      the bard wrote about him

                      ‘Oh Alwyn, thy smallish creeper
                      extendith upon the land
                      a doltish finger, a slackened jaw,
                      unfriended by mostith, youith
                      a hero, nay. Few will care if banished,
                      cut adrift to flounder – a floppy foe…

                    • McFlock …
                      10 February 2016 at 10:24 pm

                      lolz
                      quod erat deflectio

                      Again. Transparently.

                      So when key gave the speech, he was doing so in what role, according to alwyn?

          • Macro 5.1.2.1.3
            10 February 2016 at 3:28 pm

            So private mr key – not wearing his Prime Ministerial Hat (he seldom does) uses a speech to make a “Policy” announcement! So I guess he will be paying for the city rail link out of his back pocket then! Good on him.

            • alwyn 5.1.2.1.3.1
              10 February 2016 at 6:47 pm

              I, personally, never said that at all. I never claimed it wasn’t the PM speaking. If you want to say I made certain claims you will have to read what I said a great deal more carefully.

              I said that there was no “Prime Ministerial duty” to give a “State of the Union Address”. This is merely a public speech to start the political year. It was only the MSM who called it this after Piggy started it, at a time when he was not even leader or deputy leader of the National Party.

        • Sabine 5.1.2.2
          10 February 2016 at 11:24 am

          so we can be assured that any money made from the lunch/speech will be properly accounted for?

          • One Anonymous Bloke 5.1.2.2.1
            10 February 2016 at 11:31 am

            I’m quite sure they will be. The problem is the whole picture: access to the Prime Minister being bought and sold like a commodity.

        • Skinny 5.1.2.3
          10 February 2016 at 12:12 pm

          It is outrageous this wasn’t a free event open to the wider public rather than this trough feast of ticket clippers.

        • Instauration 5.1.2.4
          10 February 2016 at 9:34 pm

          US and NZ leaders should take a lead from the transparency of the RU leadership;

          Annual 4hrs for free multimedia Q+A
          http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/20796

  6. adam 6
    10 February 2016 at 12:47 pm

    Democracy for sale – going cheap, cheap, cheap.

    People seem unset that the Tory scum would try to make of a buck.

    They would sell John Keys farts if they could.

    The Tory scum, and the rest of us – have nothing in common.

  7. Ad 7
    10 February 2016 at 1:41 pm

    It’s a reasonable but small point; it’s been going on for years.

    I would like to be invited to lunch with Andrew Little, and he can charge whatever he likes, and he can do it as a fundraiser in whatever capacity he likes … as soon as he generates more policies I like.

  8. savenz 8
    10 February 2016 at 1:52 pm

    +100

    ‘The Prime Minister, when he is doing his day job, ought to be accessible to all and not fundraising for an organisation supportive of his political party. And Auckland Council entities should not be spending ratepayer money to allow selected individuals to support this.’

    People need to try to get these trougher politicians held to account!

    Love the way the right wing citizens and rates payers (I think they recently rebranded but can’t remember name) group never mention the waste of taxpayers money on this.

    Or the millions being wasted on environmental lawyers for all the planning stuff ups like ports of Auckland where bizarrely the council supported stealing the harbour!

    The Auckland Council is as right wing as they come!! Auckland Transport are absolute Troughers too. I just hope they all get their come uppence. First by employing people that believe in public transport might be a start.

    If you are looking for a Mayor – giving Auckland Council and related organisation a big kick up the backside would be a start.

  9. Bernard 9
    10 February 2016 at 3:58 pm

    anyone that wants to shell out money to hear a liar speak needs their head read anyway.

  10. vto 10
    10 February 2016 at 7:26 pm

    ” Little was looking five years into the future. Key was finally catching up with the trends that were evident five years ago.”

    And this folks is the difference with conservatives.

    Conservatives never lead.
    Conservatives never have any fucking idea what the future holds.
    Conservatives cannot think outside what they are told.

    Conservative is John Key.

    Conservatives are good for being the ballast in the hold to steady the ship. But that is it. Never use ballast to steer or navigate. Ever seen ballast brought up to deck? It is gross and stinks. Nobody goes near it. It has just a single use.

    It is past time the conservatives got the fuck back down in the hold before the ship hits rocks.

  11. greywarshark 11
    10 February 2016 at 8:45 pm

    Honest politician that John Key. Put money in, and you get your money’s worth.

  12. Smilin 12
    12 February 2016 at 6:27 pm

    Key keepin his friends close and the media even closer

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    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

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